Anambra worst hit by flood – Presidential team

•Gov. Obi (Middle), conducting the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah (left) and the Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia (right) during the tour of flooded local government areas in Anambra State in a helicopter.

A presidential delegation led by the Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa, visited Anambra State on Thursday and declared it the worst hit by the floods that have ravaged 14 states in the country lately.

Accompanied by the the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah; the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; and theDirector of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mohammad Sani Sidi, Mailafia observed that the state is located at the lowest point of the River Niger and that must have occasioned the enormous destruction wrought by the flood.

The team commended Governor Obi for his efforts at assisting the victims.

The Minister of Aviation, whose house alongside those of the former minister, Prince John Emeka; former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Prince Chinedu Emeka; the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nwebili and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oselloka Obaze, among others, were under water, said the situation was clearly beyond human comprehension.

He thanked the governor for his relentless efforts to offer assistance and support to the affected communities and assured that the Federal Government would come to the aid of the state.

She said that while in other communities houses and farmlands were destroyed, in Anambra State, multi-billion naira industries, including the three industries the President commissioned when he visited the state on August 30 and Orient Petroleum facility and office, were under water.

Conducting them round the flooded areas, some of which they visited in a helicopter, Governor Obi, who had to cancel all his engagements, including his trip to Mexico because of the natural disaster, said four local government areas, namely Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anambra East and Ogbaru, were completely submerged while four others, Awka North, Ihiala, Onitsha North and Onitsha South, suffered various degrees of destruction.

On Thursday, the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, held a meeting with the governors of the affected states on measures to assist and reduce the suffering of the people.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Obi thanked the President for his care and concern and for setting up a presidential team to look into the disaster.